Equinor Completes Installation of Torpedo Piles for the Raia Project FPSO in the Campos Basin

July 15 – The Raia project has reached another milestone in its development schedule with the completion of the installation of the 24 torpedo piles that make up the mooring system for the FPSO to be used at the field. Jhordann Barrera, the Raia project’s SURF (Subsea, Umbilicals, Risers, and Flowlines) offshore operations manager, stated that this was the first time Equinor has used torpedo pile technology, which was originally developed by Petrobras.

“Equinor installed the piles at a world-record depth. The installation of the torpedo piles is a critical element of the project, bringing us closer to the start of operations to deliver energy to Brazil. The Raia project will supply approximately 15% of the gas the country will need in the coming years,” he highlighted.

This progress comes just days after Equinor completed the installation of the PLEM (Pipeline End Manifold), a subsea component responsible for connecting the FPSO’s risers to the pipeline that will transport natural gas to shore. The system was installed at a depth of approximately 2,700 meters in the Campos Basin, marking further progress in the project’s subsea infrastructure work.

Located in the pre-salt layer of the Campos Basin, about 200 kilometers off the Brazilian coast, the Raia field lies in water depths reaching 2,900 meters. The project is operated by Equinor (holding a 35% stake) in partnership with Repsol Sinopec Brasil (35%) and Petrobras (30%).

With operations scheduled to begin in 2028, Raia is considered one of the key natural gas projects currently under development in the country. The venture is expected to produce and transport approximately 16 million cubic meters of natural gas per day—a volume sufficient to meet about 15% of the national demand for the fuel. The project is also part of the Federal Government’s New Growth Acceleration Program (Novo PAC).

In addition to gas production, estimates indicate that the area holds recoverable reserves exceeding 1 billion barrels of oil equivalent (boe), cementing Raia as one of the most important assets under development in Brazil’s pre-salt region.